On
Prime Time last night the seven presidential candidates were asked whether presidents
should have to make reference to God when taking their oath of office.

The
question was, of course, extremely leading. Why ask them this at all? It is a
total non-issue in the election campaign. Is anyone at all bringing it up on
the doorstep? Nonetheless, it is an interesting question.

All of the
candidates said they would take the oath as it is currently written, but three of
the candidates, Michael D Higgins, Martin McGuinness and David Norris said they
would be happy to see the oath reviewed, presumably so that a newly elected
president would not have to swear before God if they did not want to.

It is very hard to argue against this. The presidency must be open to anyone and everyone and it is
entirely feasible that one day a self-declared atheist will be elected to the
office. He or she should not be put in the position of having to make an oath
before a deity they don’t believe in because to ask them to do such a thing
would be a violation of their conscience.